How You Can Pick the BestTrail Running Shoes

As there are various kinds of terrain that trail runners can dare take on, out there also are different kinds of trail running shoes that one can choose from.

And as challenging as it is to conquer mountains and hills, finding the best trail running shoes to match your needs and suit your style can just be as tough and tricky. So to help you successfully get through your shopping ordeal, we’ve summarized some of the basic types of trail running shoes as well as the key factors and features that are beneficial knowing about and should be taken into consideration when you go on your hunt for the perfect shoes to take you to your running goals. Don’t miss our other running shoes reviews.

As a necessary part of foot gear designed specifically for adventure on the trails, trail running shoes have soles and uppers engineered to withstand and survive running on sharp, muddy and uneven underfoot. With features such as aggressively lugged soles that provide more efficient traction, as well as a rockplate positioned at the midsole for added protection, and water-shedding meshed uppers for stream crossings, trail running shoes are practically made to take on whatever the trail has to throw your way. And that’s why you can expect to gain benefits from investing in a good pair of this type of shoes.

Trail Running Shoes Come In A Variety of Different Types

While there are no cast in stone categories of trail running shoes, they may be defined according to the four basic genres of trail runners, and based on the shoes’ degree of cushioning and heel-to-toe drop, which is the difference between the heights of the cushioning under the foot at the heel and at the toes. In general, heel-toe drops measure 0-14 millimeters.

Minimalist & BarefootDesigned to keep the natural shape, function and instinctive motion of your feet as you run on trails, barefoot or minimalist trail running shoes are generally characterized by 0mm heel-toe drop and a mere slab of rubber on the sole to serve as underfoot protection. While the advantages of running barefoot are still being debated upon, it’s still good to know that you can find shoes intended for this genre of trail running.

Low-ProfileRecommended for more experienced trail runners with strong foot muscles and swift and light strides, the low profile shoe offers less protection but more sensitivity since they have less cushioning. As such, this type of trail running shoes is great for making fast and light strides, and is conducive to natural running motions. They usually come with 0mm to 6mm heel-toe drop and are quite popular among elite trail runners.

Standard or TraditionalOutfitted with the standard features of trail running shoes, traditional trail shoes generally look like typical running shoes and come with lugged traction, rockplate in the midsole as well as water-draining meshed upper. With heel-toe drop ranging from 6mm to 14mm, standard trail running shoes can provide enough cushioning and protection, which makes them great for everyday training and even for long running adventures.

MaximalistWhereas minimalist trail shoe models are characteristically low on cushioning and protection but high on sensitivity, maximalist trail running shoes, which generally exhibit high stack heights, low heel-toe drop, and relatively high amount of cushioning, come high on foot protection but low on underfoot sensitivity.

So depending on your need and preference in terms of protection and sensitivity, you may opt for a minimalist, low profile, traditional or maximalist pair of trail running shoes.

Factors to Consider

This time, let’s take a close look at the factors that can serve as your criteria for evaluating trail running shoes. These factors include foot protection, traction, stability, comfort, weight and sensitivity.

Foot ProtectionThere are two components of protection – upper and underfoot. The upper protects the top and sides of your foot while the sole and the rockplate in it, if it has any, comprise underfoot protection. Both protective components of trail running shoes help avoid or reduce injuries from protrusion and abrasion such as sharp rocks and sticks.

TractionIn trail running, you’ll encounter different types of surfaces and for which you’ll need shoes that can provide enough traction even on muddy, snowy, rocky or wet trails. This also increases your efficiency when running as it helps improve your footing and balance, and keep you from slipping when running.

StabilityWhen you test trail running shoes for stability, you’re basically testing for how the shoes maintain or alter your natural running mechanics to give you stable platform over variable terrain. Some shoes are designed to bend and morph to the running surface and require you to adjust your landing and push-offs while some would require you to modify or alter your stride to ensure stable platform.

ComfortComfort is very subjective so what’s comfortable for a person with wide toe box and narrow heel may not be as comfortable for someone with narrow feet. Nonetheless, shoes exhibiting superb craftsmanship and seamless construction are very much likely to be comfortable and easy to wear. And so when it comes to comfort, it’s pretty much about whether or not you’re completely at ease wearing it and moving in it.

WeightWhen you run on trails, you have to be as light as possible because the weight of your shoes can either negatively or positively affect your running mechanics. The trail running shoes’ water-shedding capacity can also have bearing on your shoes’ weight. The ideal pair of trail running shoes would absorb the least amount of water and also drain the most.

SensitivityHow well you feel the trail or the surface you’re running on would depend on the shoes’ sensitivity. Normally, trail running shoes that are highly sensitive are low on protection or cushioning while those that are less sensitive are high on protection. So depending on how sensitive you’d like your trail running shoes to be, you can opt for a pair with more or less cushioning.